Final
Royals take aim at fifth straight win and sweep of Rays
Jul 24, 2011 - 2:31 PMVideo
On Saturday the Royals had to go to extra innings for the second time in three games, but once again the club used timely hitting to come away with the 5-4 victory. Eric Hosmer knocked in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning with an RBI double, notching the 11th walk-off win of the season for the club to lead the majors.
Mike Moustakas finished with a double and three RBI while Alex Gordon picked up three hits for the hosts. For Moustakas, it was his first career multiple- RBI game.
Joakim Soria tossed a scoreless 10th to earn the win, his fifth of the season, while Brandon Gomes gave up the winning hit and suffered the loss on the Tampa Bay side. The Rays' Kyle Farnsworth was charged with his fourth blown save of the season.
"Like I said the other day when we won in extras, the bullpen really does it for you and that's what happened tonight," said Gordon. "Soria did a great job of shutting them down and it was good to see."
Johnny Damon and Desmond Jennings delivered RBI doubles for the Rays, who have lost eight of their past 11 games yet are still 28-22 on the road. For Damon, the team leader in hits this season with 102 in his 91 appearances, he is now batting .279 thanks to six hits in his last three contests.
Getting his first-ever crack at the Rays, Felipe Paulino sets to take the mound for Kansas City this afternoon. The right-hander has been less than spectacular this year and for his career, sporting a record of only 7-28 with a 5.47 ERA in 74 career games.
In 2011 Paulino has but one win in eight decisions and has been a constant in the starting rotation only since the start of June. Last weekend the 27-year old worked his way through seven innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and a walk, striking out eight, but was again saddled with a loss in the 4-3 defeat at the hands of Minnesota.
Countering for the visiting club is Alex Cobb, the right-hander being bumped up in the rotation. The rookie has pitched only one other time in the month of July back on Monday in a 5-4 loss to the New York Yankees.
In that matchup Cobb lasted six innings, permitting just two runs -- one earned -- on three hits and four walks, while striking out three. Still early in his development, the Boston native has issued 16 bases-on-balls while fanning just 22 over the course of 35 innings.
KC, which is buried in last place in the AL Central, already 11 games out of contention and 16 games under .500, it has struggled with pitching from the very beginning and is now second-to-last in the league with a collective 4.45 ERA.
Tampa Bay hurlers have been much more precise in 2011 with a 3.62 ERA to rank fifth in the league entering play on Sunday. More telling for the Rays at the moment might be the fact that the offense is batting just .240 in the month of July and is now down to .243 on the season overall, which is third from the bottom in the AL ahead of only Oakland and Seattle.
- TAMPA BAY: 5
KANSAS CITY: 0
Final
Jul 24 5:15 PM - Ben Zobrist single to right scored Sean Rodriguez with two out. On the play, Desmond Jennings advances to third. Runners on first and third and Evan Longoria due up.
Rays 5, Royals 0 Top 8, 2 OutsJul 24 4:33 PM - Ben Zobrist was hit-by-pitch scored Sean Rodriguez with two out. Bases loaded and Evan Longoria due up.
Rays 4, Royals 0 Top 6, 2 OutsJul 24 3:55 PM - Johnny Damon bases loaded walk scored Sam Fuld with two out. Bases loaded and Ben Zobrist due up.
Rays 3, Royals 0 Top 6, 2 OutsJul 24 3:54 PM - Matt Joyce sacrifice fly to right scored Ben Zobrist with one out. On the play, Evan Longoria advances to second. Runner on second and Casey Kotchman due up.
Rays 2, Royals 0 Top 3, 1 OutJul 24 2:59 PM - Evan Longoria single to left scored Johnny Damon with none out. On the play, Ben Zobrist advances to third. Runners on first and third and Matt Joyce due up.
Rays 1, Royals 0 Top 3, 0 OutsJul 24 2:58 PM - TAMPA BAY: 0
KANSAS CITY: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Jul 24 2:14 PM
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